Renewal Areas

Tackling concentrations of poor housing – we look at areas of poorer housing within the Borough and take the appropriate action to turn things around. One way we do this is by declaring Renewal Areas.

What is a Renewal Area? | Fairfield I | Fairfield II | Latchford  

What is a Renewal Area?  

Warrington Borough Council has sought to tackle concentrations of poor housing by using area based initiatives for some time. Renewal Areas play an important role in improving the condition of the private sector housing stock.

• Renewal Areas are a format for tackling physical, social, and economic problems within a given area.
• Renewal Areas normally last for ten years. (Long-term commitment)
• They provide local authorities with real scope to improve the housing and general amenities of an area in which social and environmental problems are combined with poor housing.
• They encourage the development of effective partnerships between local authorities, residents and private sector interests.
• They secure maximum impact by increasing confidence in an area and help to reverse the process of decline.        

To declare a Renewal Area, the Local Authority must undertake a systematic appraisal of renewal options using a methodology known as a Neighbourhood Renewal Assessment. From this assessment, aims and attainable objectives are set for delivering a program of urban regeneration in that area. 

Currently, within the Borough there are three declared Renewal Areas: 

• Fairfield I 
• Fairfield II 
• Latchford         

Warrington Borough Council declared it’s first Renewal Area, Fairfield I in July 1996. The success of this was built upon by rolling out the declaration of Fairfield II in December 1997 and Latchford in February 2001. 

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Fairfield I Renewal Area: (declared in July 1996 and completed July 2006)

The geographical area of the Fairfield I Renewal Area is predominantly contained within King Edward Street/Manchester Road/Padgate Lane – Gorsey Lane and the railway line. 

There are 604 dwellings and 42 commercial properties that make up the area and resident/stakeholder involvement in Renewal Area activities has been and remains high. 

The original research to ascertain urban regeneration objectives dates back to the mid-1990’s and through the enthusiasm and commitment of many of the stakeholders, great inroads have been made into resolving some of the issues identified. 

Without doubt, the most recognisable change in the area has been the implementation of Traffic Calming measures along with a 20mph Speed Limit on residential roads, but these are not the only significant benefits to the community: 

• Investment in Housing and improvements in Housing Conditions are another success of Renewal Area activity. Indeed, during the last eight years over £1,012,500 of assistance has been paid to renovate dwellings.
  A partnership formed with Warrington Housing Association has enabled Housing Corporation and Council funds to be utilised. Through this partnership, Warrington Housing Association has joint funded the renovation of a number of empty properties which are now occupied, and have re-constructed the Elmwood Congregational Church and houses on Elmwood Avenue.
• A partnership formed with Warrington Housing Association has enabled Housing Corporation and Council funds to be utilised. Through this partnership, Warrington Housing Association has joint funded the renovation of a number of empty properties which are now occupied, and have re-constructed the Elmwood Congregational Church and houses on Elmwood Avenue. 
• Since the declaration of Fairfield I Renewal Area in 1996, the partnership with Warrington Housing Association has induced a £7.5 million refurbishment programme in the area and seen 46 homes refurbished and the purchase of 66 former County Council properties. 
• In its initial stages, the focus of activity within the Renewal Area was on solving the environmental problems identified by the residents during the consultation period. As the Renewal Area has moved into its later stages, the focus of activity has shifted to community issues.
• The Community House at 306 Manchester Road is provided by Warrington Housing Association on a rent free basis for use by the Residents’ Association and is central to the continued success of the Renewal Area. Activities in the Community House include
  • Courses in IT, languages and access to higher education
  • Youth Group
  • Parent and toddler group    

These successes need to be sustained and area confidence will further be enhanced by the continued development of the already self-sufficient Residents Association. An Eight Year Review of Fairfield I was recently carried out. This highlighted the shift in focus of Renewal Area activities as environmental problems diminish and attention begins to turn towards increasing community involvement, helping to ensure the future sustainability of the area.  Click the following link to view the Fairfield 1 Exit Strategy

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Fairfield II Renewal Area: (declared in December 1997)

This second phase of Renewal Area declaration in Fairfield contains those properties within Gorsey Lane – Padgate Lane/Manchester Road/Helsby Street/Glazebrook Street/School Brow and the Railway line.

Again, extensive research was compiled to form aims and objectives for this area and the residents/stakeholders were comprehensively consulted in order to achieve this.

• There are 1,045 dwellings and 68 commercial properties in Fairfield II and research revealed that the main concerns of the stakeholders related to traffic speed, parking and residential road safety. These issues have been addressed and a combined Traffic-Calming and 20 mph Scheme was completed in April 2002.
• The improvement of housing conditions mirrors the success of the improvements and take-up of grants in Fairfield I. In the year prior to declaration, only 6 renovation grants were approved in the area. Through focused promotion of grant availability, there were 74 renovation grants approved in the first four years.  In this period, almost £700,000 (of all types of grant) were paid in Fairfield II.  This strategy is to be continued.
• Residential input has been less instrumental than in the neighbouring Renewal Area, but efforts to change this scenario have had some success with support from the Community Development Worker.
• A sixth-year review of this Renewal Area will be completed early next year, with the collation of Stakeholders' views giving refreshed and continued direction to Renewal Area activity in the future.
• A sixth-year review of this Renewal Area has been completed, with the collation of Stakeholders' views giving refreshed and continued direction to Renewal Area activity in the future. Click the following link to view the Fairfield II Sixth Year Review    

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Latchford Renewal Area: (declared February 2001)

The youngest of the borough's three Renewal Area's is also the largest containing 1,362 dwellings and 57 commercial premises. The area boundary lies between the A50 (Knutsford Road), the former Warrington – Lymm railway line and Black Bear Park (Linear walkway). 

This area of Warrington contains some of the oldest housing (85% of the Renewal Area is pre-1940). Consequently, the promotion of grants will be a major aim of this initiative and already, this mechanism has delivered over £470,000 of Grants in the first two years.

Environmental issues for this area relate to car parking and lack of greenery. Consultation with the local community has been intensive and the level and quality of residential input has been exemplary. The subsequent Environmental Works Projects being introduced are designed to allow for the issues of parking but are intended to introduce aspects of road safety (20mph zone), and in some cases, dramatically change the street scene improving the aesthetics of the area.

Residential input has been significant and instrumental in steering Renewal Area activities.  A four-year review of Latchford Renewal Area has recently been completed to monitor and evaluate the progress made so far.  This will enable us to adjust strategies and objectives in accordance with changing circumstances to ensure that the initiative is delivering changes and improvements where they are most needed and bring most benefit to the community as a whole.  Click the following link to view the Four Year Review 

If you require any further information on any of Warrington Borough Council's three Renewal Areas, please contact: 

Senior Private Sector Housing Officer
Tel - (01925) 442450

Last updated 02/02/2010 13:56:45

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